The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-11
YESTERDAYS SECOND EDITION.
THE following items of news appeared in our
Second Edition of Sunday:l
A Disastrous shipwreck,

NORFOLK, Va. JAN 8-One of the most dis
astrous sbpwrecks which ever occurred on the
Virginia coast happened at 2 o'clock this morn
ing, near the Little Island iife-saving station,
fourteen miles south Of Cape Henry. Not less
than twenty, and probably more, lives were lost.
among them five life-saving men, who, in the
discharge of their duty. were drowned. The
morning was bitterly cold, and a binding
snowstorm prevailing, with the wind blow
ing gale from the northwest. During
a lull in the storm the life-saving patrol
from Little Island life-savng station sighted a
large ship stranded on the bar about eight hun
dred yards from the shore. When he saw the
vessel he was going to meet the patrol from
Dam Neck station and exchange checks showing
that both patroimen had been to the end OF
their beat The Dam Neck patrol was only a
few yards distant when the vessel was sighted.
and both fred rockets to notify the crew of the
stranded ship that she had been seen. They
hurried back to their respective stations
and gave the alarm. In little
while both crews with life boats and
apparatus, were abreast of the wreck. and the
boom of mortar announced that a line had
been shot out to the Inflated vessel The shot
was unsuccessful, and second was fred with
like result After firing six unsuccessful shots,
the ifesaving men determined to brave the
fury of the sea and the death that seemed GER
tain to await their venture The word of COM
mand being given by Captain Beanza, of life
saving station No. 4, known as Little Island, six
of the most expert boatmen manned each boat
At his command the men gave way with will;
and, in moment both boats were breasting the
furious waves. They reached the ship in safety,
and five of the ships crew were taken in a life
boat, and ten in ships boat, which was launched
for the purpose.
The boats headed for shore, and not a word
was spoken, for each man realized the awful
peril which surrounded them. With a steady
pull the two boats were making good Roadway
for shore, whom a wave of great power struck
both boats, capsizing them instantly and pitch
| ing their twenty-five occupants into the boiling
sea. Then began desperate struggle for life,
and with many of the men 1t was a prolonged
| one. The Mortified life savers on the beach were
powerless to assist their drowning comrades or
| the unfortunate strangers The drowning men
were carried southwark by the seas, and some
| of them were washed ashore AS they came
| within reach they were picked up and endeavors
were made to revive them, and in two instances
with success although one OF the two is badly
| injured.
| The vessel is the German ship Elizabeth, Capt.
| Halberstadt, from Hamburg to Baltimore, and
not one of her crew survives her wreck. Her
cargo is unknown, as the high seas have thus
| far prevented any attempt to reach her, 1t Is
| though she is leaking badly, and at sunset her
I masts were thought to be giving away OF the
life-saving crew the following were lost
ABEL BELANzA. captain of No. d. known as
| Little Island.
| J. W. LAND same station
| GEORGE w. STONE, same
| J. A. BELANZA, of Dam Neck Station and brothe,
| JOSEPH SPRATLEY, of Dam Neck.
John Etheridge and Frank Tetford of No.
! station. were washed ashore and resuscitated
| but Etheridge is so badly Injured that it il
| thought he cannot survive.
! WASHINGTON, Jan. 8-The signal corps sta
/ ton at Dam Neck, Va, reports that the mast'
| of the stranded ship are loose, and that she viii
| probably be total wreck No particulars o.
| the casualties, beyond those contained in tn,
Norfolk dispatch. have been received.